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Crop

Nutrient

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2009 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest Winners

Results of 2009 Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest

Best Overall Photo

Grand Prize (US$200):

Cui Rongzong, Shandong Soil & Fertilizer Institute, Jinan, Shandong, China, took this excellent close-up of iron (Fe) deficiency in peanut just prior to the crop’s flowering stage. Plants are clearly displaying the symptoms of strongly chlorotic young leaves while leaf veins remain green. “The image was taken near Ouyu Village, Zaozhuang City in Shandong. The site has characteristically high soil pH values and Fe fertilizers have not been used for many years. Soil test Fe was measured at 3.3 mg/kg and the active Fe content of young leaves was determined to be 10.4 mg/kg.”

Nitrogen

1st Prize (US$150):

M.R. Umesh, Post Doctoral Fellow at New Mexico State, submitted this field trial shot of nitrogen (N) deficiency at the Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, University of Agricultural Sciences, in Bangalore, Karnataka. “The photos were taken 69 days after planting and showed a significant N deficiency through a side-by-side comparison of a 100 kg N/ha application (left) and a N omission plot (right). Plant tissue analysis and soil test values both indicated a deficiency of available soil N.”

Phosphorus

1st Prize (US$150):

S. Srinivasan, Agricultural College, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Killikulam, Vallanad, India, shot this vivid example of phosphorus (P) deficiency in a 4-month old cassava crop. “I captured this image of a plant that received no P after planting. The deficiency was confirmed with chlorotic lower leaves while upper leaves had a healthy green appearance. The lower yellow leaves eventually turned purple and shriveled. Thin stems and narrow leaf lobes and poor root growth were also noticed. A history of mono-cropping cassava has depleted soil P. The soil test revealed that P content was very low (less than 2.8 mg P/kg). Leaf tissue analysis also registered a lower value of 0.19%.

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The mission of IPNI is to develop and promote scientific information about the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of the human family.

IPNI is a global organization with initiatives addressing the world's growing need for food, fuel, fiber and feed. There is widespread concern for issues such as climate change and relationship of crop production to the environment and ecosystems, and IPNI programs are achieving positive results. Best management practices (BMPs) for nutrient stewardship encourage the concept of applying the right product (source), at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.